Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Words

can i just start by saying: "hisself" is NOT a word black people?! i hear so-called educated black people use this all the time and i just cringe...it's HIMself!!!!

*sigh*. now that i finally got that off of my chest, i must blog about the experience today that reminded me to do that public service announcement. i was out shopping and this young-ish black woman-probably mid-thirties was at the department store complaining about a service. i didn't hear the entire story, but what i did hear was that she wasn't as articulate that she needed to be in order to get what the results that she wanted.

black people! don't you realize that when you don't speak properly, or try to mix your ebonics into modern english thinking that the person you're complaining to will care just because you're upset, you're wrong? people immediately write you off mentally and are no longer truly listening to what you're complaining about. it's the difference between "i'm sorry, there's nothing we can do" and "let me get my manager/sure, what i CAN do is..."

i worked in customer service not long ago and black people would call me on the phone complaining about this or that and, i gotta admit that if they were older in age i'd give them the benefit of the doubt and help them. but what i couldn't stand was people from my generation who could not articulate in a professional manner what they wanted. i was like, REALLY? in 2010 a young black person still speaks like they haven't been allowed a proper education?

it's hard for me to have patience for those people. we all have the opportunity to learn proper english and be articulate. and that's the only way we'll truly get what we want.

15 comments:

Oh I can go on and on about words that "we" use that really urk my nerves. I can't stand for "us" to start a sentence off with the word "Am" and not put "I" in front of it. There are too many of "us" that have the "DAMN AN EDUATION" attitude. We went wrong somewhere down the line, but we need to get back on track....SOON!

yes yes yes! i swear to god, if i hear conversate one more freaking time. it's CONVERSE! stop making up words and use the ones that are plentiful and available, jesus. Then wonder why people treat you like an uneducated moron and aren't RUSHING to help solve whatever problem that you are TRYING to articulate. blech

Excellent post. I think I may have to post a request for bail money the next time someone accuses me of "acting white" because I choose to speak proper English. It saddens me when I think of how much further along we'd be as a community if we embraced education.

Wow this is the first time I have to agree with you. I live in the DMV area (dc,md,va)and the "accent" drives me up the wall. If I hear another person pronounce "carry" as "curry" I'm gonna lose it. Don't even get me started on the South. You will get cut if you try to correct someone's english.

I find it kinda sad that we all equate a person's dialect that they may or may not choose to speak with stupidity, and that we pay so much attention to being "articulate" (whatever the hell that means)instead of focusing on the sentiments and ideas people are trying to convey when they speak.

Fun fact, try talking to any linguist about speaking "properly" and they'll look at you like you're a moron. Proper English does not exist, it's a social construction that gives prestige to the language variety of one social group (ie: upper middle class White people) vis-à-vis people of colour and the poor.

Honestly, what makes any one person's dialect or accent better or worse than anyone elses? Seriously.

While I agree with Rosario's concept, I still disagree with the overall analysis. I think being articulate is very important because a lot of people can talk for five minutes and not make sense whatsoever. It's no good to have an idea if you're not capable of explaining it to where someone understands. I do agree with the part where you say we truly don't know what's right or wrong. Having said that, the standard is set by the people in power. If a person wishes to be a part of that society, then they have to accept that.

I think that all people need to strive to speak proper English. Not just blacks, when I read the comments I said to myself, my my sounds like they are embarrassed for being black. But idk i guess its just me. also, I'm a full black college student who naturally speaks proper english, I have family, who speak the way ur saying but you shouldn't put down all blacks for things that some do.

Pure bullshit. Why are you judging people based on the way they speak? Listen to what they are saying and not how they say it. The fact that you don't feel the need to help those people who happened to not speak "proper" during your customer service is f*cked up on your part. People are who they are and should not have to conform to the typical bullshit society to be accepted and yes this goes beyond language.

Wow. First of all, who cares what someone who is too lazy (or scared) to post their name says. "Listen to what they are saying and not how they say it"?

Really? They're not saying anything!

"...should not have to conform to the typical bullshit society"? Then where should they live? Regardless if you like it or not, if you don't sound educated then you don't have too many career opportunities. At least not good paying careers.

If people don't put priority on basic speech, then they're stuck in their own "bullshit society" never to excel in the real world.

I completely agreee with you! Oh my, I couldn't agree more.I also hate when black people she " I had went" or had something.. Just because you put had in front of something does'nt mean that its correct!!

It is all about the power that you, as an individual, feel that you have. When a person is educated they will know that there is a proper way to deal with any type of situation and that naturally a chain of command exists. If one person can't assist you with your issue then you ask to speak to a person higher up the chain. People who have not received this type of knowledge perhaps due to their socio-economic status/education level tend to fight the only way they know how and that is often verbally and or physically. They will attempt to wear another person down to get what they feel that they need and throughout their lives it has worked. However, due to the economic downturn this is no longer working as well because many people/corporations are trying to hold on to the resources that they do have and pleasing the customer is no longer the top priority. I am afraid that there will be a lot more calls to security to remove irate customers from the premises.

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Who is

The brutally honest thoughts and musings of a thirty-something, middle class black girl's experiences as a mother to two girls and one boy, interacially married to an awesome white guy in [a very white] Portland, Oregon.
Topics that I blog about are likely thought or ideas that are not so easy to talk about openly, things I'd only tell a close friend.
Raised in Portland, the youngest of 5 siblings-with FOUR older brothers-I want to write about race relations and perception from my perspective.
AND I DON'T HAVE TO BE OBJECTIVE.
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[this blog and writer is not associated with any other "thatblackgirl" (or similar) domains, blogs or screen names]